Round-the-Clock Purple and Gold

Coach Mike Brown leans on Tim Grgurich for advice

December 15, 2011 | 1:00
pm

He may have no formal ties with Mike Brown's coaching staff, but Tim Grgurich's presence at the Lakers' practice facility bore great significance.

Brown, as a former Nuggets video coordinator in 1992 served as a counselor at Grgurich's famously secretive summer camps at Las Vegas, which consistently attract the best NBA talent. Grgurich isn't currently linked with any team after serving as a consultant last season for the Dallas Mavericks, leading many teams to clamor for his services. His 12 seasons working under George Karl for both the Sonics and Nuggets, and assistant coaching stints with the Portland Trail Blazers (2004-05 and 1998-2001) Milwaukee Bucks (2001-02), Phoenix Suns (2002-04) have earned him universal league praise for player development.

Even though Brown couldn't convince Grgurich to join his coaching staff this year Brown said "he's always been a sounding board to me."

"I know for a fact every NBA coach, if Grgurich wanted to work for him," Brown said, "every NBA coach would do what I'm doing."